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He kissed her cheek again and whispered, "You're brilliant, Janey. But we're better together."
She smiled up at him. "Yes, we are."
As they stared at one another, the love in Jane's eyes making his heart swell, Kai moved to kiss her, uncaring who saw.
Because Jane Hartley was his love, his mate, his everything. And he couldn't wait until they started the next chapter of their lives as parents, one way or another.
He murmured, "I love you," before someone called out his name and he wheeled his mate over to where Aaron and Teagan stood with Bram and Evie. And as they all chatted about the celebration and what to expect in the new year, Kai held Jane's hand and felt a measure of peace and happiness he never would've expected all those years ago, when his true mate had rejected him.
But in fact, that had been his good fortune. Because Kai was right where he belonged, with the mate he wanted, and he could face anything with Jane by his side.
Epilogue
Just Over Eight Months Later
Jane leaned against Kai's side, staring down at the little bundle in her arms, and tried her best not to cry. After a grueling eight months—full of medications and injections and multiple doctor visits—Jane had become the first known case of a human incompatible with dragon-shifters to birth a dragon-shifter's child.
Her son was a miracle, plain and simple. And she still had trouble believing he was real.
Kai kissed her cheek and adjusted the blanket around their son, Matthew. "He's perfect."
Matthew had light blond hair, the same color Kai had possessed as a child. He was wrinkly like all newborns, but Jane didn't care. She touched his nose. "I think he looks like you."
"Maybe. But I hope he ends up looking like both of us."
They stared a little longer, both memorizing the moment with their new baby, when someone knocked. Her brother poked his head inside. "Are you all right, Janey?"
She smiled. "Tired, but well enough. Come in."
Rafe entered. Right behind him was Jane and Kai's adopted son, Caleb. He was tall for a six-year-old, and had huge brown eyes that took everything in.
Kai was convinced Caleb would be a Protector one day.
Jane motioned for him to come closer. "Come meet your baby brother."
The little boy approached slowly until he was at Jane's side. He said, "He's wrinkly."
Jane laughed. "Yes, he is. But Matthew will fill out soon enough, I'm sure." She reached out a hand and brushed some black hair from Caleb's forehead. "You have a very important job now, don't you?"
Caleb nodded. "Dad said I have to watch over him. It's my first assignment."
Kai grunted. "That's right. And a very important one too."
Rafe ruffled Caleb's hair. "Maybe once you get some practice, you can look after your cousins, too."
Caleb smiled, which made Jane do the same. The boy had been unsure at first since he'd never had a family. However, since Jane had mostly been on bedrest for her pregnancy, she'd spent a lot of her time reading to Caleb, talking with him, learning more about him. He was definitely more comfortable with Jane than Kai. However, the little boy did everything he could to impress his new dad. It was sweet, really, to see Kai and Caleb together. Kai didn't show his softer side to many, but it'd touched Jane that her gruff dragonman had done so with their oldest son.
Jane patted the spot beside her on the bed. "Come sit with us."
Rafe helped Caleb up, and the little boy leaned against Jane's side, much like he'd done over the last few months when he was tired.
There was another knock, and Bram entered the room. He grinned as he walked toward the bed. "I heard it's another boy. In twenty or so years, are we going to have two more Protectors?"
Jane rolled her eyes. "Don't encourage Kai. This one isn't even a day old yet."
Bram winked, walked closer and said, "I'll wait until he at least starts walking." He smiled at them both. "Congratulations."
Jane shared a glance with Kai. "Thank you."
